Cancun Forum: Fins Up!

Z~ Right now, the reports are a bit all over, the most recent I've seen states that a 38 y/o Canadian woman was attacked just offshore while jet skiing with other Canadian tourists. Other reports indicate a group of folks apparently swimming in the surf. The woman as stated is reported to be very seriously injured at this time from the attack, bitten both in the arm and thigh, hopefully, she survives the attack. One report indicates that Red Flags were ordered up along the beach area of the hotel zone.

I saw this posted on another forum. Interesting. There's a reason I'm a pool person!

I hope all are OK.

From and Courtesy of Diario de Yucatan, as translated:

Cancun .- Municipal Civil Protection authorities confirmed this afternoon that a female shark attacked and badly injured a Canadian tourist who swam in front of the hotel Park Royal, at kilometer 11.5 of the Avenida Kukulkan Cancun.

The head of the Civil Protection Office, Mario Castro reported that Nicole Ruth Wood, was taken to the hospital Hospiten, seriously injured, where her condition is reported as serious with a detached arm and left thigh.

The incident was reported around noon and rescue teams immediately mobilized, only a private ambulance service could enter the hosting center to pick up the woman, apparently 38 years of age and transported to the hospital in Cancun where she is already receiving attention.

Castro Wood said according to initial reports, the attack apparently occurred because the female shark approached the coast to give birth, and the woman, who was with a large group of swimmers, came too close to it, so they (the shark) reacted that way.

The municipal official said that at this moment is the shark mating season, so it recommended that swimmers pay attention to such situations.

(note: this is an early account, I'd expect more information and possibly changes in details as the story evolves)

yucatan.com.mx/20110131/…medio-ambiente.htm

I was there. I was one of the first to the scene. the girl was missing most of her arm and a large portion of thight. she was losing a lot of blood. the "responders" really didnt do mucjh for her. i had to wrap a towel around her leg and my friend turnicaret her arm. it took life guards about 10 min to get to her. she was awake and talking but fading fast due to blood loss. im not sure how she possibly could have survived.

Jess, thanks for the firsthand account; and Godspeed to the woman and her family.

Based on the latest reports, a wire story off the Windsor Star;

MEXICO CITY — A Canadian tourist suffered serious injuries Monday after being attacked by a shark while swimming near her hotel in the resort city of Cancun.

Cancun civil protection officials identified the 38-year-old Canadian as Nicole Ross, who sustained injuries to her left leg and arm in an attack that occurred 15 metres from the shoreline, the Mexico City newspaper Reforma reported.

Details of her hometown or travel itinerary were not released. A message left with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa went unanswered.

Dr. Italo Sampablo Lauro, medical director of Hospiten, a private Cancun hospital, confirmed the civil protection report when contacted by Postmedia News, but said Ross's injuries were not life-threatening and that she was expected to recover.

The doctor called the shark attack "exceptional" and rare for Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

"We've not had this kind of incident here previously," he said.

News agency Notimex reported a previous shark attack near Cancun in 2008 that claimed the life of a local man who was swimming with his family.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Canadian+woman+survives+shark+attack+Cancun/4199813/story.html#ixzz1CgidaFn6

so are the treating her? is she getting leg & arm amputated? Thats crazy you were there, Jess & able to help out!

Jessjas 2001 - this is my sister-in-law, and we are desperately seeking more information. Can you please send me a private message?

"That near to shore? Interesting."

Zeeka, your avatar would suggest you're a diver. Surely then you're aware that the vast majority of unprovoked shark attacks occur in shallow water, most under 10', right?